Face Lift
You may be a candidate for facelift surgery to restore a more youthful appearance to your face and neck. Women (and men) who choose facelift surgery are dealing with the following visible imperfections:
- Excess facial skin that sags and droops
- Heavy, saggy jowls
- Deep facial creases
- Neck folds
- Droopy cheeks
- Deeply-etched smile lines
- Marionette lines (crease from the corners of the mouth down to the chin, and lip lines)
- Facial wrinkles
Types of Facelift Procedures
The condition of your facial skin is unique to you, and the facelift procedure that will be performed will be based upon your condition. Modern plastic surgery techniques for facial rejuvenation can resolve problems that range from moderate to severe.
Moderate Facial Aging: Some patients are showing moderate visible imperfections from aging facial skin, ordinarily in the mid-facial region, neck, and jowls. The appearance of the face is greatly changed by the presence of excess skin that has begun to droop or sag. This level of moderate skin degeneration is particularly common in our younger patients. Moderate facial skin problems are typically resolved with a less extensive surgery.
Severe Facial Aging: When age has impacted the resiliency of the deeper facial structure, multiple areas of the face are affected. Older patients often have more severe conditions that can be resolved by the classic approach in facelift surgery, in which the fat, skin, and underlying muscle is remodeled so that a younger, fresher look is achieved.
How is a Facelift Performed?
Initially, you will get a full evaluation of the condition of your face and neck, as well as your general health condition and history, medications you take, and other information needed prior to any surgery. If you are determined to be a candidate for the procedure, your surgery will be carefully planned out on an individual basis. Every person has unique skin, and areas that need to be resolved. The procedure will include incisions, carefully hidden within your hairline and behind the ears, so that you are not left with visible scar lines. For your own comfort, the procedure will be performed while you are under sedation. Excess skin is trimmed or lifted, while the underlying facial tissues are reshaped surgically to achieve a fresh, tighter, more youthful facial appearance.
Natural-Looking Facelifts: The Art of Plastic Surgery
The skills of your surgeon are exceptionally important in any surgery — particularly facial surgery. Not only must your surgeon be highly trained, but she must have an eye to the level of tightening that will leave you with a natural looking result. Overly stretched skin can be unattractive. Dr. Pfeifer is an artist as well as a plastic surgeon, and seeks to achieve a smoother, fresher appearance that appears natural, rather than stretched, tight, and strange. We want you to be very pleased with the outcome of your surgery, and a full discussion of what you want to achieve is an essential aspect of any surgical procedure performed at our two clinic locations.
Healing After Facelift Surgery
After your surgery is complete, you can expect some degree of bruising and swelling of the facial tissues. This is the body’s natural response, which will fade completely after a few weeks. For the first several days after surgery, you will need to spend your time resting, allowing your body to focus its energy on healing. You will be provided with a prescription for pain medication so you are comfortable in the initial stages of recovery. Every person will heal at a different rate, so there is no utter standard, but typically, patients can return to work after about two weeks with comfort. Special camouflaging cosmetics can be used to cover any residual bruising. Over your first week of recovery, it is crucial that any strenuous activity is avoided and that your hair is handled with great care, as the incision site is hidden within your hairline.
For exercise, you will need to engage only in the least strenuous for two or three weeks. Taking a walk or careful stretching exercises may be appropriate, but speak with your surgeon for specific instructions about post-operative care. Avoid alcohol, and don’t smoke. These products can slow the time it takes to heal significantly.
Follow Your Surgeon’s Post-Op Directions
You will have several post-op appointments with your surgeon to evaluate your condition, remove sutures and drains (when present), and check on your overall progress. We care about our patients, and stay in close communication after surgery – we want the healing process to be as short as possible. Don’t forget that you will look worse before you look better, and your first look at your face may not please you – be patient. Your face may feel stiff and sore, or feel numb. This will fade as each day passes. To make the process of healing move ahead as swiftly as possible, follow your surgeon’s post-op directions to the letter.
Before and After: A New You
Our patients tell us that they are amazed at the resurgence of self-confidence, once the facelift recovery is complete. Your face will now reflect a younger, smoother appearance, and the boost in self-esteem is one of the most valuable side effects of facelift surgery, according to our patients. Look over our “before and after facelift photos” so you can see the difference a facelift can make.
Dr. Tracy Pfeifer and her staff do everything possible to make the entire process as pleasant as possible, from the first appointment through to the final recovery. Many of our patients come to us directly from personal referrals – we are proud of the word-of-mouth that our services have inspired. Call us for an initial appointment. We look forward to meeting you.